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W. Brantley  Phillips, Jr.
Member
Nashville
P:(615) 742-7723
F:(615) 742-2842
E-mail W. Brantley Phillips
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Education
Washington & Lee University - J.D., 1997
Duke University - M.P.P., 1997
Birmingham Southern College - B.A., 1991

Court Admissions
U.S. Supreme Court, 2002
U.S. Court of Appeals Sixth Circuit, 2001
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Tennessee, 2001
U.S. District Court, Western District of Tennessee, 2001
U.S. District Court, Middle District of Tennessee, 1999

Bar Admissions
Tennessee, 1998

Memberships
Tennessee and American Bar Associations

Honors & Distinctions
Listed in Best Lawyers®, Benchmark Litigation "Future Stars” and Nashville Business Journal’s Best of the Bar
Tennessee Bar Association Leadership Law, 2006
Harry Phillips American Inn of Court, Barrister
Senior Articles Editor, Washington & Lee Law Review, 1996-1997
Law Clerk to Hon. William M. Acker, Jr., U.S. District Court, Northern District of Alabama, 1997-1998
Phi Beta Kappa
Omicron Delta Kappa

Publications
Tennessee Law Chapter (co-author), Lobbying, PACs and Campaign Finance: 50 State Handbook (2012 edition)
"Third Circuit finds corporate executives made false statements without scienter," Thomson Reuters' News & Insight Securities Law blog (November 1, 2011)
"Top Ten Best Practices for Merger Transactions from a Litigator's Perspective," (co-authored with Britt Latham) ACC.com (August 1, 2011)
"The 6th Circuit Discusses Scienter under the Exchange Act, Joins Other Circuits for the 'Good Faith' Affirmative Defense in Control Person Liability," Thomson Reuters' News & Insight Securities Law blog (July 13, 2011)
"Loss Causation and Expert Testimony at the Class Certification Stage - Possible Impacts of Upcoming Supreme Court Decisions," Thomson Reuters' News & Insight Securities Law blog (May 16, 2011)



Brant is a Member of the firm's Litigation and Government Advocacy Practice Areas. In addition to complex business litigation, including securities and shareholder class action defense, derivative actions and business fraud, Brant's practice includes regular work in various administrative and regulatory proceedings. Brant is listed in Best Lawyers® for administrative law and the Nashville Business Journal’s Best of the Bar (2008).

Brant's recent experience includes:
  • Lead counsel to HealthSpring, Inc. and its board of directors in a shareholder class action relating to $3.8 billion buyout of HealthSpring by Cigna Corporation;
  • Lead counsel for King Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and its board of directors in shareholder class actions relating to $3.6 billion buyout of King by Pfizer, Inc. See In re King Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Shareholder Litigation (Sullivan County Chancery Court, at Bristol, Tennessee, Master Docket No. B0022967(C));
  • Co-counsel to global healthcare company Sanofi-Aventis S.A. in shareholder class actions relating to its $1.9 billion purchase of the leading over-the-counter pharmaceutical company, Chattem, Inc. See In re Chattem, Inc. Shareholder Litigation (Hamilton County Chancery Court, at Chattanooga, Tennessee, Master Docket No. 09-1032);
  • Trial counsel for Genesco Inc. in $1.3 billion breach of contract action against The Finish Line, Inc. relating to a failed merger;
  • Counsel to Bright Horizons Family Solutions, Inc. and its board of directors in shareholder class action relating to $1.4 billion going-private transaction;
  • Co-counsel to HCA Inc. in shareholder class actions relating to $33 billion going-private transaction;
  • Counsel to Morgan Keegan & Company, Inc. and its subsidiaries in multiple derivative cases and ERISA class actions relating to fund investments in mortgage-backed securities;
  • Counsel to a large Tennessee agricultural cooperative in $50 million shareholder derivative case.

Brant graduated magna cum laude from Birmingham-Southern College, where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa, Omicron Delta Kappa and Mortar Board. He received his law degree, cum laude, from Washington & Lee University School of Law. Brant also holds a master's degree in public policy from Duke University, where his work centered on state and local government issues. Prior to joining the firm in 1998, Brant served as a law clerk to Judge William M. Acker, Jr., on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama.

In addition to his litigation practice, Brant regularly advises firm clients on state and federal campaign finance and ethics law issues. Brant is the author of the chapter on Tennessee law found in Lobbying, PACs and Campaign Finance: 50 State Handbook (Thomson/West Publishing) and he makes presentations to corporate and community groups on the subject.  Brant also is a contributing blogger to Thomson Reuters' News & Insight Securities Law blog.

Brant is a member of the Tennessee and American Bar Associations, and he served as the chair of the TBA's Federal Practice Section in 2007-08. His community involvement includes service with the Young Leaders Council, the YMCA of Middle Tennessee, the Alcohol & Drug Council of Middle Tennessee and the "Room in the Inn" homelessness relief program. Brant also is active in state and local politics and served as chief legal counsel to the Tennessee Democratic Party in 2007-08.